Combination headlamp and flashlight assembly and method of use

Abstract

A combination headlamp and flashlight assembly includes a headlamp base; a headlamp head including a light source; a battery case, and a battery. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly is changeable between a headlamp configuration and a handheld flashlight configuration. In the headlamp configuration, the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the headlamp base to form a headlamp, the battery case carries the battery, and the battery case is electrically coupled to the headlamp base for powering the light source with the battery to provide illumination. In the handheld flashlight configuration, the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the battery to form a handheld flashlight where the battery forms a handle and body of the handheld flashlight and powers the light source to provide illumination.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A combination headlamp and flashlight assembly, comprising:
 a headlamp base including a single locking element that electrically and mechanically connects; 
 a headlamp head including a light source, the headlamp head including a single locking element that electrically and mechanically connects; and 
 a combination handle and battery pack including a single locking element that electrically and mechanically connects, 
 wherein the combination headlamp and flashlight assembly is changeable between a headlamp configuration and a handheld flashlight configuration, in the headlamp configuration the single locking element of the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the single locking element of the headlamp base to form a headlamp, and the combination handle and battery pack is electrically coupled to the headlamp base for powering the light source to provide illumination, and in the handheld flashlight configuration the single locking element of the headlamp head is mechanically and electrically coupled to the single locking element of the combination handle and battery pack to form a handheld flashlight where the combination handle and battery pack forms a handle and body of the handheld flashlight and powers the light source to provide illumination. 
 
     
     
       2. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly of  claim 1 , further including a head strap connected to the headlamp base to encircle and secure the headlamp to a head of a user. 
     
     
       3. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the headlamp base locking element, the headlamp head locking element, and the battery locking element include at least one of an elongate tongue and an elongate tongue receiving channel for mechanical connection and respective electrically conductive terminals for electrical connection. 
     
     
       4. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the headlamp base locking element, the headlamp head locking element, and the battery locking element each include one or more electrically conductive terminals. 
     
     
       5. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the headlamp base locking element, the headlamp head locking element, and the battery locking element each include at least one of an elongate tongue and an elongate tongue receiving channel. 
     
     
       6. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the light source includes one or more LEDs. 
     
     
       7. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the combination headlamp and flashlight assembly includes an on/off switch to turn the light source on and off. 
     
     
       8. A method of using the combination headlamp and flashlight assembly of  claim 1 , comprising:
 mechanically and electrically coupling the headlamp head to the headlamp base via respective single locking elements of the headlamp head and the headlamp base to form a headlamp, mechanically and electrically coupling the combination handle and battery pack to the headlamp base via respective single locking elements of the pack and the headlamp base; donning the headlamp on a head of a user, and powering the light source with the combination handle and battery pack to provide illumination; 
 mechanically and electrically decoupling the headlamp head from the headlamp base; 
 mechanically and electrically coupling the headlamp head to the combination handle and battery pack via respective single locking elements of the headlamp head and the pack to form a flashlight, hand holding the flashlight by the combination handle and battery pack, and powering the light source with the combination handle and battery pack to provide illumination. 
 
     
     
       9. The combination headlamp and flashlight assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the headlamp base locking element, the headlamp head locking element, and the battery locking element are twist-on fasteners. 
     
     
       10. A flashlight, comprising:
 a headlamp head including a light source and a single headlamp head locking element that electrically and mechanically connects and includes one or more terminals; 
 a combination handle and battery pack including a single battery locking element that electrically and mechanically connects and includes one or more terminals, 
 wherein the single battery locking element is mechanically and electrically coupleable and decoupleable with respect to the single headlamp head locking element to form a handheld flashlight where the combination handle and battery pack forms a handle and body of the handheld flashlight and powers the light source to provide illumination. 
 
     
     
       11. A method of using the flashlight of  claim 10 , comprising:
 mechanically and electrically coupling the single battery locking element with respect to the single headlamp head locking element to form a handheld flashlight where the combination handle and battery pack forms a handle and body of the handheld flashlight; and 
 powering the light source to provide illumination.